Anaheim Ducks Move AHL Affiliate from Norfolk to San Diego

The Anaheim Ducks have made the move official: the organization purchased the Norfolk Admirals and will relocate their AHL affiliate to San Diego in a new, AHL Pacific Division. Along with the Ducks, the Los Angeles Kings (Ontario), San Jose Sharks (San Jose), Calgary Flames (Stockton), and Edmonton Oilers (Bakersfield) will all relocate their affiliates to California as well, forming a five-team division.

Anaheim Ducks

This is a major move for the Ducks. The Ducks are a team that is built through the “draft-and-develop” philosophy, and having the affiliate in Southern California is a tremendous help for the Ducks, instead of cross-country in Norfolk. 10 of the 21 Ducks on the active roster have been with the Ducks through the entirety of their NHL careers (Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri, Devante Smith-Pelly, Rickard Rakell, Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, and Frederik Andersen). Ilya Bryzgalov was drafted by the Ducks as well, before having stints in Arizona (then, Phoenix), Philadelphia, Edmonton, and Minnesota.

Only two current Ducks have never appeared in an AHL game: Fowler and Andrew Cogliano. The Ducks are not a team that will go out and make multiple “splash” signings in free-agency or blockbuster trades. Yes, the Ryan Kesler and Chris Pronger deals have happened, but those were made in pursuit of championship aspirations: most of the Ducks’ moves are acquiring draft picks, and the success of the organization depends on the success of those picks.

Player development is a tricky, imperfect science. Having consistent playing time is a huge thing for players: it’s why players like Emerson Etem, Josh Manson, and John Gibson are currently in the AHL: they have proved at the NHL level that they are capable of playing at the highest level, but the team is looking for further seasoning and development. Rakell had to wait for his opportunity in December, while Smith-Pelly and Vatanen had to prove themselves with strong postseasons to make the roster this year.

Having the AHL affiliate in San Diego is not just a benefit for the players, who are considerably closer to Orange County for call-ups. It also benefits the organization and scouts. Just about every player on the Ducks has used the AHL as a part of their overall development. Not that the scouts were not tracking player development before, but it’s much easier to track player development when the affiliate is closer.

Hockey has continued to grow in California. The Kings, Sharks, and Ducks are three of the most successful NHL organizations today, and now, five AHL organizations are coming to California. This is a terrific move for the Ducks organization and the city of San Diego.

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